Wakana Ge. Chapter 35

Chapter 35 from Ogata Gekko’s, Fifty Four Chapters of Tale of Genji.

The Tale of Genji was written shortly after the year 1000 in Japan’s Heian era, when the capital was situated at Heian-kyo (present day Kyoto).

On the last day of the Third Month there was a large gathering at Rokujo mansion. Kashiwagi had decided to go thinking that he might feel less gloomy to be near to the Third Princess. All the court people had also participated in the archery competition. Evening came, a pleasant breeze made the guests even more reluctant to leave the shade of blossoms. A few of them had too much to drink. The two generals, Higeguro and Yugiri, joined the other officers in the archery court. Kashiwagi was lost in thought. From time to time he would look vacantly up at the trees. Yugiri noticed and was worried about him. Then four years went by uneventfully. The reign was now in its eighteenth year. On the occasion of his illness, the emperor withdrew to his crown prince. The son of the Akashi princess became the crown prince. The dream of the Akashi people had nearly been accomplished. Genji went on pilgrimage to thank the god of Sumiyoshi with the Akashi people and Murasaki. It was late in the Tenth Month. The refrain of the Kagura music “Thousand years” continued in front of the shrine covered by a flowered tapestry, which was spread against the evergreen pines for the whole night to summon limitless prosperity for Genji. Genji had given lessons of koto to the Third Princess so as to be appearing grown up at the celebration of the jubilee of the Suzaku emperor. On the 19th of the New Year, he had a female concert for the rehearsal. The lady Akashi played the lute, the lady Murasaki the thirteen-stringed koto, the Akashi princess the sho piper and the Third Princess the seven-stringed koto. It looked like the magnificent concert symbolized the glory of the Rokujo. But, on the following morning — maybe she was relieved to see the orders in Rokujo – Murasaki had a high fever and a dark change began. The disease of Murasaki was heavy. Genji was at her side all the day. On the other hand, Kashiwagi was still thinking of the Third Princess. Guessing that the Rokujo mansion would be deserted, his yearning had grown stronger. It was the eve of the Kamo festival when he succeeded in entering her bedroom. But his feeling was far from simple happiness. Out of passion, it was a terrible thing to betray Genji whom he respected. A feeling of guilt overwhelmed him. The Third Princess was not well because of her sin. Hearing the report of her illness, Genji came to see her in Rokujo. Then a messenger came from Nijo residence that the lady had expired. He rushed off. At Nijo, the priest was leaving. Genji prayed to let her stay just a little longer and asked the priest to pray again. As though his intense prayer might have reached to the Buddha, the evil power of the late Rokujo lady disappeared. Murasaki narrowly escaped death. When the flower of lotus was full in bloom, though Murasaki was ill in bed, she could have her hair washed. It was only a rare occasion that she could raise her head a little bit. It pleased Genji very much. There were tears in his eyes. “I as almost afraid at times that I too might be dying.” Though he felt no great eagerness to see the Third Princess, it was not allowed him to neglect her because of the present emperor and Suzaku Emperor. At last, the ceremony of the visit of the Suzaku emperor was decided in the middle of the Twelfth Month. Preliminary rehearsals were conducted. As Genji knew of the relation between the Third Princess and Kashiwagi, Kashiwagi was reluctant to visit Rokujo. Persuaded by his father, the Minister (To-no-Chujo), and strongly invited by Genji, he set out. In front of visitors, Genji talked to him amiably, which made him uncomfortable. Losing the will to live, Kashiwagi contracted a fatal disease on returning from the preliminary rehearsal. Though Genji’s manner was jocular, each word seemed to Kashiwagi a sharp blow. Genji fiercely surveyed Kashiwagi. Lamenting his life, which went differently from his wish, he still thought of the Third Princess. In his letter he pleaded to her to write him even one word of pity. Finally, the Kojiju, who was a servant close to his house, delivered an answer. He sent for a lamp and read the princess’s note that said only, “You speak of the smoke that lingers on and yet I wish to go with you”.